Visioneers (2008)

SERIOUSLY. This is what the crap Hollywood still puts out?

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

Let's say I did not expect this movie to be that simple and true. And yet rich, with so many ways people can go wrong. You can even read the scenario your own way, somehow. Imagine it if it stretched endlessly instead of being forced into less than two hours. And you would see what your life could become if you don't pay attention...so true...it did surprise me, and there are unfinished moments, some moments in which the "resolution" hangs in the air, and you fill in with your own end to the moment, and then see that the movie turns another way instead...it could have been done in an even more "true" way though, especially more on the "dream" side, which seems kind of empty...even though it's there!

I see other reviews complaining that the movie wasn't funny enough, and I must say that those reviewers have tragically missed the whole point.This isn't the sort of black-comedy that should be compared to Dr. Strangelove (as one reviewer did) which has an overall apocalyptic theme with still hysterical comic delivery. Visioneer's flavor of black-comedy is more closely akin to that of "Fargo." It's a truly sad and moving story that has comedic elements which foil that sadness, making it all the more tear-inducing to watch.I'll try to be more specific. The irony that a completely heartbreaking story would contain whimsical elements lends a beautiful sense of illness to the movie. That sweet illness is what Visioneer has in common with Fargo. However, where Fargo's comedy arises from the viewer's constantly misplaced pity, the Visioneer's comes from a silly childlike spontaneity.That compare/contrast with Fargo is the best I can explain it without having spoilers. Beyond that all I can say is this movie kicked me right in the feelings in a wonderful way. Watch it!

I feel bad about giving this film such a bad grade. The cinematography was decent, as was the acting, the set design, and the dialogue. the thing is, I was really excited to see this film. As a sci-fi fan, a dark comedy about a corporation-country is right up my alley. I love to see a film exposing the dangers of today's society and possibly granting guidance as to how to avoid the seemingly inevitable. That's the kind of movie I love. Therefore, "Visioneers" was disappointing.Jared Drake's debut, though entertaining, failed to delve fully into the corporation-country and to deliver a satisfactory resolution to the issues that were brought up in the film. I wanted to see a film in which a country was completely controlled be a corporation, where the president of the corp. was the president of the land, where people pledged their allegiance to a corporation's flag, where media blasted incessant propaganda. Instead, Drake presents the audience with an in-between world. The nation and corporation are entwined but semi-separate as well, with a relationship similar to that of the church and the state old Europe. The media is in the beginning stages of total censorship, but shocking footage revealing the shortcomings of the nation are still shown, revolutionary groups are shut down with caution, and the radio is available during most of the film. This mid-state in itself would not have discouraged me. In fact, I was hoping this film would be a new take on the corporate dystopia: how to stop it before it starts...but alas. Instead, "Visioneers" ends with a bout of love-fueled adultery that sparks a dreamy hallucination, sending a vague message about the need to maintain one's passions, to "feel something", and (most cliché) to keep dreaming. Nevertheless, the message is at least a positive one, the dialogue is often witty, and the acting isn't bad. Galifianakis holds his own as a leading man and Judy Greer is superb as his floundering, depressed wife. "Visioneers" is worth a viewing; just don't go in expecting "Brazil".

I put in the spoiler alert just because I talk about some major themes, though not necessarily the entire plot. I don't really give anything away though.I've read some reviews of this film that call say it presents a "dystopian" society. I don't think that's accurate. Here's are definitions of the two words so you can decide for yourselves... http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/dystopian http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/entropicIn fact, I think the directors go to great lengths to achieve a sense of open space throughout the film. It is only when they do a scene in the offices of the corporation that things get crowded. I think the word that better describes the world in this film is entropic. It's a society that has reached a state of entropy. There is no better corporation, and emotions have all sort of leveled out. The sameness of everything really allows Galifianakis to have amazingly strong and effective reactions to "chaos" when it starts to enter his life. I've also read that some describe this as a black comedy. I think that's closer to the mark, but it's not exactly that either. I think this movie is a really unique experience that will be particularly poignant to anyone that works, or has worked for a major corporation. Especially if they were ever in a management position. (I was.) Towards the end of the film things start blowing up, so to speak, and this is where Galifianakis really shines. I highly recommend this film to everyone, but I think there's only a certain group of people that are going to appreciate it. A must see for Zach Galifianakis fans.